The SS Oliver Ellsworth was a Liberty ship built at Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards Inc, Baltimore, Maryland, during World War II. The cargo ship was named after Oliver Ellsworth, an American lawyer, judge, politician, and diplomat. The ship was assigned to Convoy PQ 18, one of the Arctic convoys delivering supplies to the Soviet Union. She carried 7,200 tons of ammunition and aircraft as deck cargo. The convoy was shadowed by German forces and came under attack by the Luftwaffe and U-boats. The SS Oliver Ellsworth was hit on her starboard side; the engines were stopped and the crew of 8 officers, 34 crewmen and 28 armed guards abandoned ship in four lifeboats within 15 minutes after the hit. Out of a complement of 70, all had been rescued except for one armed guard who drowned. Liberty ships were built with many asbestos-containing materials during a time when the extent of asbestos’s dangers was not known. Asbestos was found in large amounts in pipes, block insulation, boilers, pumps, valves and engines of each ship. If you think you were exposed to asbestos while serving aboard the SS Oliver Ellsworths, you may still be at risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma, and you should make an appointment with your doctor.
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